The majority of proteins involved with the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation
are therefore genes encoded in the cellular genome, and not the mitochondrial genome,
and these proteins determine metabolic function and activity of the mitochondria [11]. Given
the association with the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, processes that we have
shown disordered in β-thalassemia/ Hb E erythroid cells [7], this study sought to take a more
detailed look at mitochondria and their relationship with β-thalassemia/Hb E disease.